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First team limited in scrimmage

MONTICELLO — When the Arkansas-Monticello football team held its first fall camp scrimmage last Saturday, Hunter Leppert was named the starting quarterback afterward.

There were no such fireworks or bombshells during or after UAM’s second scrimmage Thursday.

The first team offense and defense was held to four possessions before Boll Weevils coach Hud Jackson sent in the second string to minimize the possibility of any injuries to the starters.

“That would be the worst possible thing, have someone get injured during the scrimmage before your first game,” he said. “Both defensively and offensively, the tempo wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be … so that was disappointing. But I saw a lot of good things on both sides of the ball.”

The first string offense was held to one touchdown during its four possessions, and it was on the very last one. The score was set up by senior running back Blake Prince’s 30-yard run, and he later got in the end zone on a 1-yard run.

For Prince, the score and the long run were redemption for a scrimmage that started off slowly for him when he dropped two passes.

“Got in the open field and tried to make the best of it,” he said. “I came out kind of slow and wasn’t really ready, but tried to overcome that.”

Jackson noticed Prince was not at his best at the beginning of the scrimmage, too.

“At first I was concerned because he played a little tentative,” he said. “I was glad to see him break that run off, and he turned a switch and got after it.”

Prince has been battling with redshirt freshman Kendall Lambert of McGehee for the starting spot and saw more time on the field.

But Jackson said Lambert is the team’s No. 2 running back and will see a good amount of time on the field.

“Kendall has established himself as a backup running back and he is going to see some time,” he said. “He’s a difference maker and that little dude is quick. We have to find a way to get the ball in his hands.”

The limited plays for the starters allowed some of the backups like Watson Chapel product Cedric Burnett to see more time.

Burnett is a freshman for UAM and recently moved from safety to cornerback, which he was not thrilled with at first.

“I was wishy-washy about it, but once I got down there and realized I could play the position, I figured just go with the flow,” he said. “They plan on getting me out there my freshman year and it’s exciting.”

UAM’s first game is at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1 at home against College of Faith.